
Main page -- Latest Revolutionary War news reviews
The Revolutionary City summer program at Colonial Williamsburg examiner.com :: 2009-06-14
There is always something new to see at the Colonial town of Williamsburg, and their Revolutionary City program lets visitors to get involved. The programs include: "Citizens at War, 1776-1781" follows the progress of the war as the town experiences the Declaration of Independence and occupation by traitor Benedict Arnold and his British troops - and how free and enslaved people cope with the effects of war profiteering, inflation and other hardships. --- "In Defense of Our Liberty:" join the Continental Army, and experience what it was like to be a soldier in the 18th century. [ Reenactment & Reenactors ]
US historian discovers 47 copies of Ben Franklin letters chattahbox.com :: 2009-05-03
A Ben Franklin scholar from the University of California, was in London to research his Franklin tome ("Benjamin Franklin and the Politics of Improvement") and discovered an authentic treasure trove of 47 copies of Benjamin Franklin letters, never before published, which sat undiscovered on the shelves of the British Library for 250 years. Alan Houston was on the last day of his overseas research trip in 2007, when he made the discovery of an historian's lifetime. His discovery has remained a secret for two years while he had the files authenticated. Benjamin Franklin spent a total of 18 years in England during his lifetime. [ New York and YorkTown ]
Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution [book review] newsok.com :: 2009-04-09
Author Richard Beeman spent 40 years thinking about American Constitution and 4 years writing it. It took far less time for the "plain, honest men" to craft a document that hit obstacles at every turn, like widespread apathy over whether such a national charter even was needed. The delegates began meeting in Philadelphia in 1787. George Washington, the star of 1776, was constitutional convention president. Delegates debated over the usual boilerplate issues: free states vs slave states, big states vs small states, republicanism vs federalism. [Buy from Amazon: US, UK, CA, DE, FR] [ Documents and Declarations ]
Long, Obstinate, and Bloody: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse [book review] starnewsonline.com :: 2009-03-25
The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, on March 15, 1781, was the largest single conflict of the American Revolution within North Carolina. Lord Cornwallis, commanding 2,000 British and Hessian soldiers and a few American sympathizers, technically defeated an American force of 4,000 (largely North Carolina and Virginia militia and some regiments of the Continental Line) under General Nathanael Greene. This "victory" cost Cornwallis a quarter of his army in terms of dead and wounded. In "Long, Obstinate, and Bloody" historian Lawrence E. Babits and researcher Joshua B. Howard join forces to deliver a professional account of this battle. [Buy from Amazon: US, UK, CA, DE, FR] [ Battles & Battlefields ]
Archeological dig in Ridgebury looks for Revolutionary war militaria newstimes.com :: 2009-03-25
Items from Revolutionary War encampments are the stuff Connecticut historians dream about. Perhaps a button from a military uniform or a bit of flint from an infantryman's musket can be discovered during an archeological dig to confirm the presence of past military action at a local farm. "French Comte de Rochambeau's camp site was in the area. If there's something here connected with his troops' presence, we want to know it," explained Dan Cruson, a local archeologist. [ Battlefields & Battlegrounds ]
George Washington & His Generals -exhibit the Donald W. Reynolds Museum connectionnewspapers.com :: 2009-02-28
"George Washington & His Generals" exhibit focuses on the conduct of the American Revolutionary War through the style and perceptive leadership of its commander-in-chief and the general officers who served with him. Co-sponsored by The Society of the Cincinnati, it contains 120 painting, prints, and manuscripts linked with 17 of the 81 generals of the Continental and French armies that fought their way from New England to Yorktown against the British, the greatest military force of the 18th century. In addition to Mount Vernon and The Society, the exhibit draws from 40 of the nation's best fine arts museums, historical societies, and private collections. [ Heroes and Generals ]
Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War bangornews.com :: 2009-02-28
"Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War" (published by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution) offers a lot of information - not only lists of names by state, but background information on Revolutionary service in the area and samples of information from historical documents like pension records. The listings include whether the patriot was African American or American Indian (including the tribe or nation). [ Indians: Native Allies ]
Stony Brook University buys letter from George Washington to local spy ring sbindependent.org :: 2009-02-28
Special Collections and University Archives at Stony Brook University bought a letter written by George Washington to his Setauket-based spy ring during the Revolutionary War. The letter, worth $48,000, was dated Sept. 26, 1780 and sent from the famed American general and president to Benjamin Tallmadge to inform him how one of Washington's top spies would be rewarded after the Revolutionary War was won. Washington promised the spy, a merchant named Robert Townsend, public recognition and money. The spy ring helped Washington gather information about the British-controlled New York City. [ Spy: Intelligence and Spies ]